Probate

You have been appointed the personal representative of a loved one’s estate, but do you know what this really means? If you are like many in Florida the answer is, “Kind of … maybe?” Being the personal representative of a loved one’s estate is an honor, but it comes...

Most Florida residents try to avoid the probate process if possible, assuming it to be costly, complex and lengthy. Unfortunately, the estates of Florida residents who die without a will must go through probate, which is the legal process of distributing a person’s...

When a person in Fort Lauderdale passes away, their estate generally must be probated. Probate is the legal process through which their assets are located, debts and taxes are paid out of the estate and the remainder distributed to the decedent’s heirs. Overseeing...

Probate may be a lengthy, inconvenient, and costly process. Transfer on death designations, however, allow the transfer of assets to designated beneficiaries after a person’s death without undergoing probate. TOD A TOD designation allows the beneficiaries or a spouse...

When a Fort Lauderdale area resident’s parent passes away it can be an emotional time. Besides dealing with the grief that comes with a death of a family member, there can also be important legal matters to attend to. Settling a loved one’s estate is one such matter...

When someone dies, the assets of the deceased must go through the process of probate, during which the oversight of inheritances, bequests, trust allocations, the settling of debts and death taxes, and the payment of funeral expenses takes place. From a legal...

A last will and testament provides the means for a person to ensure that their property and assets are distributed, following their death, according to their wishes. But a will also allows the deceased to specifically exclude certain individuals from receiving any...

Most Floridians think that once a will is signed by the maker of the will (the “testator”), its provisions are carved in stone and cannot be changed. Fortunately, Florida statutes provide clearly stated reasons a person can challenge the validity of a will or any of...

One of the unfortunate facts of life is that everyone in Florida will pass away at some point in time. People pass away in different ways and at different times in their lives, but ultimately everyone will pass away. Throughout their lives though people acquire...